Broncos acquire Moffitt, whose health wasn’t good enough for Browns

Douglas LeeAug 20, 2013 6:48 PM

The Browns had agreed to trade DE Brian Sanford to the Seahawks in exchange for guard John Moffitt on Monday, but health concerns surrounding the former third-rounder convinced Cleveland to cancel the deal on Tuesday.

Seattle wasted no time finding a new trade partner, and has instead sent Moffitt to Denver in exchange for DT Sealver Siliga.

The Seahawks first drafted Moffitt 75th overall out of Wisconsin in 2011, but he only played in 17 games during his two seasons in Seattle.

Obviously, the trade doesn't speak well for either Seattle's opinion of Moffitt, on whom they'd spent a high pick only two years ago, or for Denver's current interior linemen.

Then again, in Siliga, the Broncos have dealt away a player who had no chance of beating out Kevin Vickerson, Terrance Knighton, Sly Williams, or Mitch Unrein for a spot on the 53-man roster.

Denver's offensive line depth has been tested all summer long (as much as anything that occurs during the summer is a test in the NFL), what with the surgery rehabilitations of Ryan Clady, J.D. Walton, Chris Kuper, and Orlando Franklin, and the injuries to Dan Koppen and more recently, Louis Vasquez.

Kuper and C.J. Davis are the current second-team guards, with the underwhelming duo of Quentin Saulsberry and Philip Blake behind them. Ben Garland is also trying to stick as a guard, but had been a defensive lineman prior to this offseason.

Moffitt graded out in 2012 at a less-than-sparkling (more like the opposite of sparkling) minus-5.9 in just 418 snaps, according to PFF. He was charged with three hits and four hurries allowed during that time.

The 6-4, 319-pounder was even worse as a rookie, grading out at minus-21.2 (!!) over only 523 snaps, and charged with three sacks, six hits, and 16 pressures allowed.

No wonder the Seahawks were already looking to get rid of the guy...

Doug is IAOFM’s resident newsman and spelling czar. Follow him on Twitter @IAOFM

Moffitt has experience at center as well as guard, so maybe that's why Denver gave him a look.

Posted by John on 2013-08-21 14:48:11

I'm late to the party and no one will probably ever read this, but I wonder what goes through the head of a guy being traded between to legit contenders. If Seattle goes all the way, it's probably going to be tough to take for him. On the other hand, there's a very real chance that his new team wins it all instead.

Of course, odds are probably much greater that neither team wins the Lombardi and I'm just talking to myself about nothing.

Posted by Jason Chestnut on 2013-08-21 14:17:15

Kuper is done in Denver unless there is another injury. The only reason he has not been cut already was he signed a contract for what his injury settlement was.

The essentially have a free player until they have to make HARD decisions in the final cuts.

Posted by Lonestar47 on 2013-08-21 12:43:26

Meh, its a shot to nothing. Siliga wasn't going to make the team and if Moffitt turns into a third reserve guard behind Kuper and Lilja and doesn't even dress on game day at least its an improvement on Siliga.

Guessing Phil Blake will be taking his iPad to the coach's office soon

Posted by Mike Birtwistle on 2013-08-21 03:23:28

The poll at the bottom of Seahawk fans on the trade is what interests me, and there's a surprising amount of fence sitters for a player who ostensibly doesn't have much value. The Endowment effect might explain some of their reluctance over the trade, since it predicts that people often overvalue their assets. On the other hand, he may have some actual value. Despite what the PFF statistics say, he has received recognition for his run blocking prowess, even though opinions are mixed.

Posted by colinski2 on 2013-08-21 02:23:32

Of course he was even worse as a rookie -- he was, you know, a rookie. ;). Just busting your chops but I think sometimes we write off players too early in their career. Likely he's no more than just emergency depth but he was good in college and could end up improving at some point.

Posted by underdog on 2013-08-21 02:03:06

Comment of the day :)

Posted by JohnHilton on 2013-08-20 22:08:34

True! And if he keep improving at this rate, he will be Tyler Polumbus! :)

Posted by JohnHilton on 2013-08-20 22:07:37

Watching Elway in the presser just makes me damn proud to be a Bronco fan.

Posted by Joshua Graham on 2013-08-20 21:02:25

Seattle's starting guards are Paul McQuistan, who is a gruesome specimen even by O lineman standards and JR Sweezy, who is probably kind of fun to have around because he's named JR Sweezy.

I would get this Moffitt fellow checked out thoroughly. I'm fairly certain one of Pete Carroll's ancestors was the guy who suggested giving smallpox infected blankets to the Ottawa.

Posted by Yahmule on 2013-08-20 20:32:37

This has to be considered a decent trade - acquiring a guy who might improve the OL for someone who would be gone anyway. He has had some playing time over the past 2 yrs and maybe will profit from a change of venue. Nothing ventured - nothing gained. Maybe he will push someone for a position....At least it is not a million dollar spit in the ocean....

Posted by BlackKnigh on 2013-08-20 20:31:19

Siliga was going to be cut anyway - they got a chance to look at a different guy who's at a position of need, just as Seattle did. Unrein has played well in preseason and with him they have 4 good players (Unrein, Williams, Vickerson and Knighton) at DT.

I also have to agree - Blake's chances appear to be slim and none. Every draft has a player or two who surprise you - I was surprised that he didn't step up more, but he started in the sport late and was drafted at an older age. Must have just been too big a leap.

Didn't the same thing happen with Brodrick Bunkley? Browns failed him in the physical so he was traded to the Broncos instead

Posted by RockyMtnThunder on 2013-08-20 19:42:52

This move likely means that it's over for Blake in Denver. As SterlingMalloryArcher said, Moffitt did greatly improve from year one to year two, and he has graded out positively so far this preseason. That's more than Blake can say.

Posted by Royalwithcheese on 2013-08-20 19:32:35

Training camp fodder. It's a non-event

Posted by Irony_Tag on 2013-08-20 19:19:21

One of two things: We have no confidence in Kuper's rehab and Lilja's unretirement, or Siliga was going to cut and they just wanted to get something for him but even still how does Moffitt make this roster?

Posted by Broncologist on 2013-08-20 19:12:21

From the "glass half-full" department, it looks like Moffitt improved significantly from year 1 to year 2!